(AP Photo/Danny Johnston, File)
Former 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison. He’s also been ordered to pay fines and special assessments of $50,100.
U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks announced the sentence of 151 months on Wednesday at the Western District of Arkansas Federal Courthouse in Fayetteville. Duggar remained calm during the sentence and took notes for future legal proceedings. He did not address the court during sentencing.
Duggar’s defense team maintains that he is innocent. Duggar’s lead defense attorney Justin Gelfand stated that his legal team would be filing a notice of appeal within 14 days
Duggar will require supervision from a parole officer for 20 years after being released from prison. He will be prohibited from any unsupervised contact with minors, including his own children with wife Anna. He must also participate in sex offender treatment and will not be allowed any computers, electronic devices, or internet access without approval by his probation officer.
Josh’s father, Jim Bob, wife Anna, his siblings Joy-Anna (Duggar) Forsyth and Jason Duggar attended the legal proceeding to support him.
Duggar was arrested on April 29, 2021 by Homeland Security. He was held without bond in an Arkansas jail and was released one week later to designated third-party custodians, Lacount and Maria Reber.